More than 100 inmates being released to help reduce risk of coronavirus outbreak at Oklahoma prisons

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More than 100 inmates being released to help reduce risk of coronavirus outbreak at Oklahoma prisons

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Updated: 11:53 AM CDT Apr 16, 2020

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THIS. WHAT IS BEHIND THE RELEASE OF MORE INMATES THIS WEEK? REPORTER: THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE WANTS TO DECREASE ANY POSSIBLE OVERCROWDING TO FIGHT AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY OF A COVID-19 OUTBREAK IN A PRISON WHICH WOULD BE DEVASTATING. >> THIS IS A FIRST. I HOPE IT GOES WELL. REPORTER: THE PRODUCT -- THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD MEETING VIRTUALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK. CONSIDERING THE BIGGEST DOCKET OF THE LAST YEAR, 400 FOUR INMATES ARE SAID TO BE RELEASED ON THURSDAY AFTER GETTING GOVERNOR OF APPROVAL LAST WEEK. WHAT WOULD BE NEXT FOR PEOPLE GETTING OUT DURING A PANDEMIC? A LAW PROFESSOR SAYS EVEN DURING NORMAL TIMES, THAT QUESTION WOULD BE HARD ENOUGH TO ANSWER. >> SETTING UP A SITUATION IS MORE DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAD LEGAL DIFFICULTIES OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE. REPORTER: THERE WAS LEGISLATION WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE STATE CAPITAL TO HELP PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF PRISON BUT ALMOST ALL LEGISLATION IS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE ALSO THINKING ABOUT PEOPLE IN PRISON WHO ARE ELIGIBLE BUT HAVE NOT PROCESSED -- BUT HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR COMMUTATION. >> NOW, YOU ARE BEING IN PRISON FOR SIX MONTHS AND IT IS A LOT MORE DANGEROUS THAN IT WAS SIX MONTHS AGO. REPORTER: THE PARDON AND PAROLE BOARD WILL CONTINUE THEIR MEETINGS THIS WEEK. THEY WOULD USUALLY HAPPEN HERE BUT THEY ARE HAPPENING VIRTUALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

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More than 100 inmates being released to help reduce risk of coronavirus outbreak at Oklahoma prisons

More than 100 inmates are expected to be released Thursday in an effort to reduce the chance of a coronavirus outbreak in Oklahoma prisons.Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Pardon and Parole Board are commuting 111 inmates Thursday. Originally, Stitt announced on April 10 that he approved more than 450 offenders for commutations help decrease prison overcrowding amid the coronavirus pandemic. KOCO 5 is working to find out why the number of inmates being released has changed. Officials said they are recommending inmates self-quarantine for a period of 14 days if they’re coming from a facility with a known case. The Department of Health is also working with the Department of Corrections to provide COVID-19 tests to anyone who needs one. According to the ODOC, one inmate and five employees have tested positive for the virus.Representatives with the ACLU of Oklahoma said the Pardon and Parole Board actually lessened how many were originally supposed to be released, saying it could be fewer than 100 getting released. We're following the numbers for you. Stay with KOCO 5 for updates.

OKLAHOMA CITY —

More than 100 inmates are expected to be released Thursday in an effort to reduce the chance of a coronavirus outbreak in Oklahoma prisons.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Pardon and Parole Board are commuting 111 inmates Thursday. Originally, Stitt announced on April 10 that he approved more than 450 offenders for commutations help decrease prison overcrowding amid the coronavirus pandemic. KOCO 5 is working to find out why the number of inmates being released has changed.

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Officials said they are recommending inmates self-quarantine for a period of 14 days if they’re coming from a facility with a known case. The Department of Health is also working with the Department of Corrections to provide COVID-19 tests to anyone who needs one.

According to the ODOC, one inmate and five employees have tested positive for the virus.

Representatives with the ACLU of Oklahoma said the Pardon and Parole Board actually lessened how many were originally supposed to be released, saying it could be fewer than 100 getting released.